Construction on the Branson Landing development is now underway. The area has been fenced off and work started on the infrastructure like new water and sewer lines and roads. Grading of the property begins in July and the first buildings will start to go up in October. A completion date has tentatively been set for April 2006.

The Board of Aldermen has approved an agreement with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates Inc of Atlanta to design the convention center and parking deck portion of the Branson Landing project.

Request for Proposal (RFP) to manage the new convention center will be sent out by the city in July, and firms interested in managing the center are encouraged to submit a proposal. To obtain an RFP outlining the scope of services, contact Branson City hall.

The Board of Aldermen has approved a resolution authorizing the city administrator to proceed with structuring a bond sale to purchase 12 acres along Sycamore Street on which the convention center and convention center hotel would be constructed. The bonds will be used to purchase the convention center land and fund public infrastructure like the boardwalk along Lake Taneycomo, the bridge over Roark Creek, the widening of Boxcar Willie Drive, and the town square on the lake.

The proposed convention/exhibition center features a 55,000 sq ft exhibition hall, a 20,000 sq ft ballroom/multi-purpose area, and 32,000 sq ft of meeting space.

HCW Development Inc, the primary developer of Branson Landing, has announced two major anchor stores for the project. Bass Pro of Springfield has signed an agreement to build a 40,000-60,000 square foot store on the south end of the retail development that features a marina where customers can test drive new watercrafts. And Belk Inc of North Carolina plans to build a 66,000 square foot department store that offers name brand clothing, shoes, cosmetics and home merchandise at the north end of Branson Landing.

The retail portion of Branson Landing along the lakefront includes a total of 465,000 sq ft of retail space. In addition to the Bass Pro and Belk anchor stores, there will be 75,000 sq ft of sit-down restaurants, 200,000 sq ft of specialty retailers, and 65,000 sq ft of other entertainment venues.

HCW continues negotiations with other nationally recognized specialty retailers and restaurants for a Branson Landing address.

Other aspects of the Landing include a curving boardwalk along Lake Taneycomo, a 2 1⁄2 acre town square with a 1,500 seat amphitheater, and a towering, lighted water fountain featuring gyrating jet streams and fireballs.

HCW plans to refurbish the Lake Queen paddleboat and make it an attraction of the Landing. The lake Queen will again offer excursions up and down Lake Taneycomo.

The city has purchased the convenience store property at the southeast corner of Parnell and Business U.S. 65 where an intersection will be constructed connecting the extension of Boxcar Willie Drive and the new bridge over Roark Creek with Business 65. Condemnation proceedings have been completed with the motel property east of the convenience store and demolition procedures are underway.

Construction of the four-lane bridge over Roark Creek that will provide convenient access to Branson Landing and the new intersection at Skaggs Road and Business 65 is expected to begin this summer. Later, Boxcar Willie Drive will be widened to five lanes from the new bridge to the Branson Lakeside RV Park.

The Phase 2 downtown traffic study continues. This study examines the total downtown traffic situation including existing traffic and future traffic with the completion of the Branson Landing development, and determines what improvements need to be made in streets and intersections.

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